adminPlayStation hardware sales in the United States fell sharply in May 2026, even as spending across the wider video game market edged higher. Circana reported that PS5 unit sales dropped 58% year over year, reaching their lowest May total since 2000. Xbox sales also declined, while strong demand for Nintendo’s Switch 2 helped lift overall hardware spending.
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PlayStation hardware sales reach a May low
The PS5’s 58% annual drop was the steepest headline in May’s console results. Xbox unit sales fell 12% year over year and reached the lowest May level in the tracking figures reported by Circana. These figures describe unit sales, rather than the total amount consumers spent on hardware.
Sony raised the price of its consoles in April. The standard PS5 increased by $100 to $649.99, and the PS5 Pro rose by $150 to $899.99. The price changes came shortly before May’s sales decline, though the reported figures alone do not establish how much of the decline was caused by pricing.
Practical takeaway: Console buyers comparing models should check current prices and included features, as the standard PS5 and PS5 Pro have different price points and specifications.
Switch 2 lifts US hardware spending
Despite weaker unit sales for Sony and Microsoft, US video game hardware spending grew 38% year over year in May, reaching $249 million. Circana attributed much of the increase to Nintendo’s Switch 2. The company reported that the system had reached a US install base of 5.9 million units.
Since tracking began in 1995, the Switch 2 is the second-fastest-selling video game hardware in the United States, according to Circana. Only the Game Boy Advance reached that milestone faster. An install base measures the number of units in use or sold in a market, providing a different view from sales during a single month.
US video game spending and top-selling games
Total US video game spending across hardware, software and other tracked categories rose 3% year over year in May to $4.2 billion. Spending year to date increased 4% to $23 billion. These broader totals show that a downturn in particular console sales can occur alongside growth across the overall game market.
007 First Light led game sales for the reporting period. It was also the fourth best-selling game in the United States for 2026 to date, behind Resident Evil: Requiem, Crimson Desert and MLB: The Show 26, and ahead of Forza Horizon 6.
Projected top 10 best-selling games, May 3–30, 2026, according to Circana:
- 007 First Light* — New
- Forza Horizon 6^ — New
- LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight^ — New
- Subnautica 2* — New
- Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream* — Previously ranked 1
- MLB: The Show 26^* — Previously ranked 4
- Crimson Desert* — Previously ranked 3
- Yoshi and the Mysterious Book* — New
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 7^ — Previously ranked 12
- Mario Kart World* — Previously ranked 10
^ Includes Digital Point of Sale Actuals. * Includes Digital Sales Projections.
What May’s results mean for PlayStation hardware sales
May’s figures reflect contrasting trends: PlayStation and Xbox unit sales fell, Switch 2 demand supported hardware revenue, and total US video game spending continued to grow. For readers following PlayStation hardware sales, the key details are the PS5’s lowest May unit total since 2000 and the recent price increases; the broader market figures, meanwhile, highlight the Switch 2’s strong launch performance.
